Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Suddenly, The Don is Lovable

According to The Flint Journal, Don Williamson has suddenly transformed himself from an incompetent mayor with a penchant for trampling civil liberties and getting the city embroiled in money losing lawsuits into a lovable curmudgeon. Who knew The Don was more of an iconoclast than an idiot?

Don Williamson is leaving office and it's unlikely Flint will ever see another mayor like him.

He's abrupt.

He's controversial.

And he does things his way. During the past five years, Williamson has boasted a style that has brought strong opinions from the public. Simply put, people either love him or hate him.

There's no in between.

"He doesn't do the anticipated," said Joe Wilson, former Genesee County sheriff and Williamson's longtime friend. "There's nothing traditional with him including his background, education and associations. He's not the type to tell you what you want to hear and then talk behind your back. At least he tells you to your face."

Wow, I had the guy all wrong. He's a straight shooter. A maverick. You might even call him The Decider. Gosh, maybe we can convince him to come back and be mayor again.

yeah, lovable...kinda like 'dolph and joe stalin were lovable. I'm not writing the donster off yet. he's kinda like herpes...the gift that keeps on giving. While Heller was trying to be sarcastic, I think he fell a wee bit short.

For years I thought convicted felons were not allowed to run for office. I could swear I actually learned that in a political science course at one time. Then the Don came along. Is there really nothing on the books about that? Or is there some sort of statute of limitations?

"Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City" by Gordon Young

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Flint Expatriates

A blog for the long-lost residents of the Vehicle City by Gordon Young

"I grew up on the Eastside and recall the unexplained pride I felt when the 3:30 Buick factory whistle blew and the roughly dressed workers poured out of the General Motors labyrinth swinging their lunch pails. Some were headed for home and some for the corner bar, but all with the determined step of an army after a battle won. I somehow felt as if I were a part of this giant assembly line and the city it fed."